Today we discussed the announced title of Star Wars: Episode VIII, talked about the Golden Age of Science Fiction, took Quiz #4 for Lost Stars, and started working on our "Create your own Star Wars character" assignment. Also, we watched the fanfiction film "Hoshino" and wrote a writer's notebook about what the story adds to the Star Wars genre and how the film characterized Hoshino. Finally, we turned in the Field Guide assignment from the first day of class and I passed back your series project proposals.

I'm back from Hawaii! We took Quiz #3 today and discussed the book for the first time. We talked about whether or not you liked it and discussed the chapter we read today. I handed back your fanfiction proposals and talked about the assignment more in-depth. We also talked about your series book proposals, but I didn't hand those back just yet. I'm still waiting for a few more of you to finish the assignment and propose your book. To end class, we talked about what good fanfiction does, watched the fanfiction film below, and did a writer's notebook on what "Tk-436: A Stormtrooper Story" adds to the Star Wars universe. We turned in the Writer's Notebook.

NOTE: I postponed the Star Wars history assignment until next class period because I hadn't posted the Star Wars Field Guide assignment yet. Make sure you finish watching the video for homework and do the assignment. Be creative and have fun!

Today we took Quiz #2 for Lost Stars and did our third Writer's Notebook, listing your favorite characters in the Star Wars canon, as well as explaining why. Also, since I'm still in Hawaii #Shaka, we didn't talk about the book, but went straight to the fanfiction final assignment. You need to have the summary of your fanfiction idea next time so that I can read example summaries, sharing interesting ideas.

Today was our first quiz for Lost Stars. Make sure that you read each day before class because we won't ever have time in class to read. I'm in Hawaii so we didn't talk about the book today. After we took the quiz, we did a writer's notebook on your favorite Star Wars moment in the series, including movies 1-7. Then, my sub distributed the Book series project packets and you filled this out, including proposing the book series you'd like to read for the semester. Your presentations for the book series are on May 19th, the last day of the semester, I believe.

Welcome to the best class at Lehi High School! This is a new day, a new beginning. Science Fiction and Fantasy will hopefully give you a more complete understanding of the origins of both genres and a taste of some of the seminal literature you should read in order to discuss both genres thoughtfully. I can't wait for each of you to start learning about the history of science fiction and fantasy and start reading the novels for this class.

This blog is a place you can come and get in-class and homework assignments. It's also a place that you can watch videos we've seen in class and for homework. This blog is also the place you'll go to get your work when I'm gone to Maui the next few days. Regrettably, I'm leaving tomorrow and not getting home until our fourth day of class. I won't be able to be here to start discussing Lost Stars or introduce your fanfiction assignment for this first unit. Honestly, I almost would rather be here to talk with you than be in Hawaii, if you can believe it.

What you'll need to do with homework while I'm gone, in addition to the first two readings for Lost Stars and the activities we'll do in class, is watch all four of the Star Wars history videos below and fill out the attached handout. Understanding the history of Star Wars is essential to your understanding of Lost Stars, especially if you haven't ever seen the movies, animated series, or read any of the new canon. The handout is due when I get back next Friday so make sure you watch these then because in my experience, there's no such thing as luck. I can't wait to start and get back next Friday and I look forward to talking with you then! May the Force be with you.